27-Inch iMac 2015 Review, Specs: 5K Retina Display Raises Screen Standard Against Rivals
If Apple was trying to redefine a computer screen the way it did with smartphones and tables, it definitely hit a home run with its latest iMac that boasts of a 5K retina display.
In his review, The Guardian's Samuel Gibbs praised the new iMac and its 27-inch screen, which he described as the step forward for desktop computers.
The 5K screen doubles the resolution of a non-5K 27-inch iMac with 5120 by 2880 pixels, which is actually seven times the number of pixels on screen compared to a 1080p full high definition TV screen.
"But those are just numbers. What it really means is that the screen is super crisp; as sharp as a modern smartphone screen," Gibbs said, adding that the iMac 5K retina display could reduce eye fatigue for the user.
He said Apple also raised the bar for screens when it came up with a feature that automatically detects the type of content and displays it at the correct resolution.
"Photos and video are played at native resolution. For text, however, four pixels are displayed for everyone as defined by the site. The text remains the same size on screen but is pin sharp. This is the same system Apple has been using on its iPhones, iPads and retina MacBook Pros for years," Gibbs explained.
It is going to be no surprise for video editors to want to get their hands on the new design since its base model will be fast enough to do almost anything, running silently until the graphics processor is pushed by a game or while rendering video.
But while raving about the monitor, Gibbs cannot miss the absence of DVD drives, which forces those who need to read CDs and DVDs to buy an extra external drive.
He also lamented that the sleek design also relegates the computer's ports to the back, which makes it difficult to plug USB cables and SD cards into the computer without spinning it around.
The Guardian's tech reviewer also complained of the new model's height adjustment, which can only be tilted on the stand.
The top of the 27-inch screen starts at 48.9 cm from the desk, which is higher than most would have their monitors. This means users will have to adjust their chair height to make it ergonomic.